Football: Amid the rain and cold, Wisconsin still manages to shine for third Big Ten win

Badgers and Boilermakers got off to an adventurous start, remainder of game remained close

The University of Wisconsin football team did not have much on their side Saturday, but they still managed to produce a win against the Purdue Boilermakers.

Although Saturday was cold and rainy, and rather dark because of the weather, the Badgers and the Boilermakers still headed onto the turf to battle it out between one another. Although a damp field and cold weather awaited the two teams, it was still sure to be an exciting match.

The Badgers got the ball rolling at first, with freshman Jonathan Taylor leading the Badgers to their first goal of the game in just 1:35. The Boilermakers had a hard time keeping Taylor at bay throughout the first half of the first quarter, and it would allow for Wisconsin to accumulate some good runs in a short amount of time.

As the skies continued to get darker the Badgers just kept getting brighter and brighter. Following a second goal from Quintez Cephus, it would seem as though Wisconsin would just manage to walk away from their series against Purdue.

However, it was only a matter of time before the Boilermakers managed to get things rolling for themselves, and soon Purdue would manage to find themselves back in the game with a series of field goals.

During the second half of the game, it seemed as though both teams were finding their strides and becoming more familiar with each other. While neither team managed to score during the third quarter of the game, it certainly was not for lack of trying.

It was quickly apparent how even these teams were, and it would soon just be a matter of which team could outlast the other. While Purdue was showing great strength during the second and third period, a series of injuries to key defensive players would ultimately favor the Badgers.

All those points that the Badgers managed to score during the first half of the game would be their saving grace as Wisconsin would end the game with the same score that they ended the first half of the game with. Although the game was a low-scoring one, it was still clear that Wisconsin can handle themselves against an aggressive defense and a hectic offense.

17 Wisconsin Final Score Purdue 9

Post-game sounds:

Head coach Paul Chryst on defensive strength:

“Well I think they’re a group that’s got good players and I think our defensive staff is doing a heck of a job. That combination is really good, it gives you a chance, but I think that they’re embracing the moments they’re in. Today I thought we put them into some tough spots but they rose up and I think we got some good leadership in that group and guys that have played in games, so we certainly are going to need to continue to have them do that and I think we have got to find a way to compliment them a little bit better offensively and special teams.”

Alex Hornibrook on fast offensive start:

“That was a great to start it off that way with two touchdowns. It gave everybody some juice we just had to carry it on the rest of the game.”

Chris Orr on holding back Purdue to only field goals:

“Those guys they have great skill players and dangerous guys that if you give them the ball in the space they can score from anywhere. It was definitely good to keep them out of the end zone today?”